Stephan Salisbury details how the cultural sector in Philadelphia has grown to support the region's economic vitality.
In the state of Pennsylvania, arts and cultural organizations are a boon to the local economy, especially in Philadelphia. These agencies are creating jobs and generating "a total of $3.3 billion in direct and indirect expenditures every year."
According to a study released this week by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, "Cultural activity generates nearly $170 million in state and local taxes annually and supports 44,000 jobs within the city and its four suburban Pennsylvania counties."
These findings have prompted more interest in public investment in the sector, which the city's chief cultural officer Gary Steuer refers to as "a real economic-development investment." Since the start of the recession in 2008, institutional subsidies, Philadelphia's grant giving Cultural Fund, and state support for cultural and arts organizations have been cut substantially.
The cultural sector of the Philadelphia region supports 43,700 jobs, the most of any region in the country, while the Greater Houston region (#2), generates 29,100, and Washington (#3) generates 29,000 jobs.
It should be noted that New York City is not included in the report.
FULL STORY: Arts in Phila. economy: A pretty picture
The Cities that Most Resemble Each Other
A fun activity in city comparison.
How Chicago Got its Cultural Center
The history of the Chicago Cultural Center, "the nation's first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue," offers insight into the shifting relationships between culture, politics, and money in the third-largest city in the United States.
More Evidence that Bay Area Housing Prices Are Hurting the Economy
Beacon Economics projects a slowdown in job growth in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the region's high housing costs.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
Alaska Village Becomes Test Case for Climate Change Relocation
The Yup’ik village of Newtok is the first Alaska community to begin a full-scale relocation necessitated by the impacts of climate change. Another 31 Alaska communities remain vulnerable.
Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
